2017 Mahindra Monastery Escape Part 3: Jispa Acclimatization Day

Day 4

This was the most relaxed day of the trip. The stopover in Jispa wasn’t only for us to take in the sights, but also to get acclimatized. As we’d move further up, the oxygen levels would dip severely and our bodies ideally needed two days here only to adapt to the state of the air we were breathing.

The morning was a cold one and while the previous night ended with a bar and barbeque, everyone was advised to take it easy on the poison. Drinking a swig too much up here can induce symptoms associated with acute mountain sickness (AMS) easily, including a throbbing headache. We stayed in well-equipped tents that included double beds and TVs. The one thing in scarcity, though, was hot water. If you got lucky, you’d walk up to the shower when the hot water wasn’t used up. If not, either no bath or one that’d turn a brown man blue. I went with option two and let’s just say a shower that cold can make a hardened atheist look to God for strength.

While Mahindra’s service team checked up on the cars, the rest of us grabbed a quick bite of breakfast and explored the flora. The Bhaga river flowed before us and it’s quite amazing to see how quickly it picks up pace.  In the distance, a thick cloud enveloped the mountain tops and we could see the rain as nothing more than a misty haze. Barely half an hour later, the river went from a steady flow to raging sprint, fortunately giving us enough warning to keep our distance.

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The highlight of the day was a light off-roading session near the camp we were staying at, where suddenly I felt plenty an eyeball turn towards me, or rather, my Thar. The purpose built off-roader could finally come into its element and lead car driver Vikram took over the reins for the day. For the lack of a low-range box, the XUVs had to sit this stage out. The off-road track was a short and easy one, with some gravel, mild water-crossings and some white sand. As long as you didn’t get too enthusiastic, all you needed was 4-Low and 2nd gear, be it the Thar or Scorpio. The SUVs spent the better part of an hour getting their feet wet and all seemed well.

Then came the statement on the PTT we were hoping not to hear – “We’re stuck”. One car ventured too close to an area laden with silt and got beached bumper deep. When the driver opened the door to step out, the water got into the cabin and soaked the ECU underneath the front seat. We’d heard stories of tractors and JCBs getting stuck around these parts while trying to rescue cars, so that’s exactly what we wanted to avoid. Several attempts at towing the car out later, we finally had the Scorpio out of the silt, with the service team swinging into action moments later. Having a team of mechanics is a major trump card in these parts. If you plan to take the trip by yourself or with a few friends, be sure to get some basic mechanical knowledge in place first.

The proceedings of the day were completed with lunch by the riverside. The food was accompanied by some local liquor tasting, since there was no driving planned for the rest of the day. Cold as the weather was, the local rice brew packed in a punch and a half, wrapped in some raw heat. In the winters, Jispa is completely covered in snow and with temperature dipping below zero even in the summers, you can imagine why the booze around here isn’t just for kicks.

Also Read: 2017 Mahindra Monastery Escape Part 1: Delhi To Manali

Also Read: 2017 Mahindra Monastery Escape Part 2: Manali To Jispa